Trbute album
Jason Isbell has an Americana festival
Jason Isbell (center) & The 400 Unit have recorded a strong tribute album. Photo: Alysse Gafkjen / October Promotion / dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Georgia became a “blue”, ie democratic, state in the US elections. Rock musician Jason Isbell pays tribute to the victory of the left-wing liberals with “Georgia Blue” in his own way.
That many US country rockers with ultra-conservative politics have far less on their cowboy hat than is often assumed has become very clear during Donald Trump’s eventful presidency.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jason Isbell from the southern state of Alabama, a typical Republican stronghold, is one of the many Americana musicians who see themselves as patriotic and progressive at the same time.
Country can also be progressive
Now the anti-redneck has processed his sympathy for the US Democrats into an entire cover album – “an affair of the heart,” as the 42-year-old says. On “Georgia Blue” Isbell celebrates the latest election victory of left-wing liberal politicians in a long republican state with glowing euphoric interpretations of rock, folk and soul pieces from Georgia.
Songs by the world-famous Georgia rockers REM from Athens (represented twice with “Nightswimming” and “Driver 8”), by James Brown, Gladys Knight and Otis Redding, Cat Power and The Black Crowes are on the track list of this very special tribute album . Isbell, who has been on the US charts for years with his alternative country band The 400 Unit, leaves the vocals to some great ladies: his wife Amanda Shires, Brittney Spencer, Adia Victoria, Brandi Carlile and Julien Baker.
A guitar fireworks display
The vocals of twelve tracks are well cast – but an over twelve-minute instrumental piece sounds the most thrilling: “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed”, originally by the Allman Brothers, is a guitar rock fireworks display of the highest quality and also an example of Isbell’s virtuosity on the six Strings.
The Grammy winner managed to say a formidable thank you to the US state, which recently swung from the red of the Trump Republicans to the blue of the Democrats – hence the album title “Georgia Blue”. “I admit, my motivation was a bit selfish,” the musician also admits. “For years I’ve been looking for an excuse to record these songs with my band and a few friends.” Politics now provided a perfect justification.
The album “Georgia Blue” by Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit will be released on CD and vinyl on Friday (November 26th) on Southeastern Records / Thirty Tigers / Membran.